Mk6 LED Taillights

[AdamD]

Ok. I wonder why VW puts the byte 18 value back to 00 to hide the true value in some cars.

Should I discount using values that are presets for other vehicles? e.g. 04 for Golf GTI or can codes be shared between vehicles models?

The value isn't put back to 00 to hide anything. But it may well be that modifying some bit, or combination of bits, has other effects (such as internal state changes for instance) that means that reverting the configuration doesn't in of itself restore the original behaviour. We don't have the specifications or a build guide to work against.

VCDS should know that the module is Jetta-specific, unless it's not Jetta-specific, in which case the answer is... I don't know. I would have thought the modules (or software versions at least) would not be shared between vehicle types, but who knows. Again, Ross-tech is your best bet. You can try any of the configurations that you think may yield the desired results. As I said before, I don't think it's likely to do any damage at all, but I can't promise anything.

[Rawcpoppa]

I tried presets for other models including the GTI. You were right. They didn't do any damage. They did lead to wonky behaviour though. Reverse lights on in park. Dim park lights etc.
Thanks for the help so far.

[sVWatt]

Leaking Tail Light.

Can't see any gap, but water is in there. Should I drill a tiny hole on the inside (black part) of the lens assembly? It would not affect the lens itself, but not sure if it will cause more issues than it solves....

[AdamD]

Leaking Tail Light.

Can't see any gap, but water is in there. Should I drill a tiny hole on the inside (black part) of the lens assembly? It would not affect the lens itself, but not sure if it will cause more issues than it solves....

You went with aftermarket (non OEM) tails, didn't you? Hate to say it, but this sort of thing is much more likely to happen with the eBay aftermarket stuff.

If you drill a hole, you'll just allow more moisture to get in and cloud up the lights on an ongoing basis. They really should be completely airtight. Your best bet is to let the lights sit in the sun (or apply gentle heat) and the moisture will hopefully evaporate. No guarantee this won't happen again of course.

[sVWatt]

You went with aftermarket (non OEM) tails, didn't you? Hate to say it, but this sort of thing is much more likely to happen with the eBay aftermarket stuff.

YUP

Ebayer said they will send another set if I send mine, but don't want to swap back to original tails and back again to new led's, so hoping he will go with a deposit from me to send new set and refund once he receives oldies back...
Few...all good. He will send out a replacement set and hold a deposit till the wet one gets back.

[darkfriend]

Leaking Tail Light.

Can't see any gap, but water is in there. Should I drill a tiny hole on the inside (black part) of the lens assembly? It would not affect the lens itself, but not sure if it will cause more issues than it solves....

The same thing happened to my tails after using a pressure sprayer a bit too enthusiastically to clean the car- and they are original parts. I took the lights off, poured out what I could and then used a hair-drier to completely dry them out. took about 15 min. Couldn't find any cracks or gaps and have been fine since...

[sVWatt]

The same thing happened to my tails after using a pressure sprayer a bit too enthusiastically to clean the car- and they are original parts. I took the lights off, poured out what I could and then used a hair-drier to completely dry them out. took about 15 min. Couldn't find any cracks or gaps and have been fine since...

Thanks good to know. If the replacement set does the same thing - Ill try your solution. I also bought some flexible clear sealer from Bunnings, so might apply that around the assembly before installing . . .

[moda]

So what's the current go, then? Go OEM (~$700) or something like the VACAR copy (~$350?)?

Thanks good to know. If the replacement set does the same thing - Ill try your solution. I also bought some flexible clear sealer from Bunnings, so might apply that around the assembly before installing . . .

How did you end up going with this?

[AdamD]

So what's the current go, then? Go OEM (~$700) or something like the VACAR copy (~$350?)?

OEM all the way, IMO.

[sVWatt]

Replacement lense still enroute.
Will let you know once it arrives and I swap it over

[moda]

Replacement lense still enroute.
Will let you know once it arrives and I swap it over

Any updates?

My local VW parts quoted me $900 for the OEM kit. Sigh.

[AdamD]

My local VW parts quoted me $900 for the OEM kit. Sigh.

Why not get the OEM parts from the German dealer source that many/most of us have used? (Check the first post in this thread for details.) I paid quite a bit less than that in 2010 when the Euro was a lot stronger.

[Lucas_R]

Hoping some of you VCDS guru's can assist with this. Basically i have a Golf R with the factory fitted LED taillights. I have always wanted to get rid of the fog light on the drivers side as its useless to me, and replace it with another reverse light (so i have 2 reverse lights) which will be much more useful. So several weeks ago, i ordered a new OEM drivers side inner light with reverse light from BKS Tuning.

Do any of the VCDS gurus on here have any ideas on the coding changes required to get this 2nd reverse light working for me when i engage reverse?

I've been looking at coding used in the USA as their cars are not fitted with a fog light.

Central Electrics > Long Coding > Byte 18 > ? (Byte 18 is currently "00" on my car). The Yanks are saying to change this to 21, as this is what their standard coding is for no fog lights. VWVortex.com - Coding - Golf-R - LED Tails - No Rear Fog

I've Googled my heart out and can't find anyone who has done this before. Surely with the amount of GTI's etc that have upgraded to the LED tail lights, some of them have gone for the twin reverse light setup instead of the useless fog light? At the moment, the only way to make the 2nd reverse light come on is to pull the headlight switch out (as if you were activating the fog light).

[AdamD]

Do any of the VCDS gurus on here have any ideas on the coding changes required to get this 2nd reverse light working for me when i engage reverse?

Hey Lucas, I'm not sure you'll be able to find a coding solution. It's my understanding that the US cars run different CECM versions (different hardware and/or firmware versions), and the coding options are not always directly compatible. All cars usually come from the factory with byte 18 set to 00, regardless of whether they've had LEDs fitted or not. The GTI and R coding is not a drop-in replacement for all bytes, including this one AFAIK.

I suspect the only way to get this working will be to modify the wiring, so that the fog is activated when the reverse light is powered.

You could try contacting Ross-tech directly to see if they have a solution that doesn't involve physical rewiring, however.

[Lucas_R]

That wasn't the answer i wanted Adam.....

Looks like i may have to wire it in to the other reverse light to get it to work - i would have preferred not to do this, but oh well. What i don't understand is that the yanks can convert their cars from non-fog light to fog light equipped, yet it doesn't seem to be able to go the other way (fog light equipped to non-fog light). It doesn't make sense.

Regardless of ADR rules, the fog light is completely useless to me, and the 2nd reverse light would be much more helpful in almost every night time reversing situation, especially reversing out of my driveway which is narrow and dark with little room for error.

Anyway, i'll fiddle with it over the next few days to get it to work properly. Once sorted, ill report back incase any one else wishes to do the same.